The Perfect Bass note

I'm still sick but I'm getting better.

Today's design crush is master designer Saul Bass. I've seen his work my entire life but had no idea who he was. I am nuts for his clean, bold hand-cut look.


Bass designed more than movie posters. He was the genius behind some of the best title sequences in the movies -- think of Good Fellas, Age of Innocence, Around the World in 80 Days, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, World and West Side Story. He also illustrated a charming children's book by Leonore Klein called "Henri's Walk to Paris."


On top of all this, Bass designed some of the best known logos from our childhoods: Girl Scouts, AT&T, United Airlines, Continental Airlines, Traveler's Insurance, Lowry's Seasongings, The United Way, Bell Telephone, Minolta and Kleenex.


But it's his posters and illustration that speak to me the most. I love the collage-like style that puts me in mind of Sister Corita, also from that period. Isn't it wonderful?

Out sick

I've been sick.

The 10-day Cold from Hell has a cousin it seems, and this one comes with a week of fever and a deep, hacking cough.

Yuck.

I haven't been good for much but I have had a little time to catch up on my favorite blogs. At the top of the list (besides the wonderful people in the right-hand column) is Book by its Cover. It's the brainchild of Brooklyn illustrator and pattern designer Julia Rothman who shines a spotlight on wonderful art books of all kinds, from the commercial art books to personal sketchbooks. If you don't know her blog, you must zip over there immediately. Just click the magic button and be transported. I'll go make a cup of tea and wait for you.

Back already?

Great wasn't it? If you scrolled down you would have seen a book about the brilliant collage art of Brazilian artist Beatriz Milhazes. Totally swoon-worthy.

Look at this.


And this.

I immediately went to Amazon to look for the book and stumbled across American artist Rex Ray. If you are already familiar with his work, forgive my gushing, but I'm totally crushing on his geometric abstractions and powerful sense of design.


Yum!


Yum again.


So between sleeping and coughing and watching movies on my Netflix list, the time hasn't been totally wasted.

Now I must go have my tea. Thanks for checking in!